Entertainment Today: Showbiz news

The list of nominees for the 28th Annual People's Choice Awards seems to indicate that the American public's taste hasn't changed much during the past year -- given the number of last year's winners who were nominated again this year.

Nominees are selected in a nationwide poll conducted by the Gallup Organization.

Tom Hanks, Jennifer Lopez and Denzel Washington -- none of whom won last year -- lead this year's field with two nominations each. Hanks and Washington are up for favorite film actor and dramatic film performer. Lopez is up for favorite film actress and female musical performer.

The nominees for favorite motion picture are "The Fast and the Furious," "Pearl Harbor" and "Shrek." Last year's winner was "The Green Mile," starring Hanks as a correctional officer on death row.

Hanks is nominated again this year, along with Gibson and Washington, for favorite actor. Gibson won the honor last year.

Roberts -- last year's winner for favorite film actress -- is up for the award again this year, along with Lopez and Sandra Bullock.

Carrey -- last year's winners for favorite comedic performer -- is up for the same honor this year, along with Eddie Murphy and Ben Stiller. The nominees for dramatic performer are Hanks, Washington and Anthony Hopkins.

The three finalists for favorite TV drama are all NBC shows -- "ER," "Law & Order" and "The West Wing." The medical drama, "ER," won the award last year.

"Everybody Loves Raymond," "Frasier" and last year's winner, "Friends," are up for favorite TV comedy.

Both of last year's winners for male and female TV performer -- Drew Carey and Jennifer Aniston -- are nominated again this year. The other nominees for male TV performer are Kelsey Grammer and Ray Romano. The other nominees for female TV performer are Calista Flockhart and Oprah Winfrey.

The People's Choice Awards will be presented Jan. 13, 2002, at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, Calif., in ceremonies that'll air on CBS-TV. Kevin James, star of the CBS comedy "The King of Queens," will emcee.

Los Angeles police are not commenting on reports that officers searched the home of actor Paul Reubens on Nov. 16 and confiscated his collection of vintage erotica.

Entertainment Tonight reported Tuesday that police started the investigation after getting a tip from someone who knows Reubens -- best known for his wacky character, Pee-wee Herman.

The material police reportedly carted off from Ruebens' home included paintings and photographs, according to ET.

A spokesperson for Reubens said he has committed no crime, and accused the police tipster of making false allegations for financial gain.

Reubens is no stranger to sex scandals. In 1991 -- while he was starring in the popular CBS Saturday morning show "Pee-wee's Playhouse" -- he was arrested at an adult movie theater in Sarasota, Fla. for performing lewd acts in public. He pleaded no contest and was sentenced to perform 75 hours of community service, and his career was derailed for a time by the scandal.

But Reubens began a comeback with a well-received appearance on the MTV Awards and a series of guest appearances on the CBS comedy "Murphy Brown." He also appeared in features such as "Matilda" and "Mystery Men," and voiced characters in Disney animated projects, including the "Hercules" TV series and "Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas."

He appeared this year in the movie "Blow" with Johnny Depp. He also appeared as host Troy Stevens in the TV version of the CD-ROM game "You Don't Know Jack."

RODNEY DANGERFIELD

Comedian Rodney Dangerfield was discharged Wednesday from Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, six days after he was hospitalized with a heart attack on his 80th birthday.

A spokesman for Dangerfield said an angiogram revealed that "a small artery had collapsed." The artery had been repaired during double bypass heart surgery in March 2000. The spokesman said Dangerfield's doctor found "no significant blockage and sees no reason for surgery."

Dangerfield was hospitalized one day after appearing on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno."

(The above two items thanks to UPI Hollywood Reporter Pat Nason)

CELEBRITY B-BALL GAME

"Malcolm in the Middle"'s Frankie Muniz and Sean Patrick Thomas from the film "Save the Last Dance" are among the celebrities who'll take part in Sunday's benefit basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

United Press International is a leading provider of news, photos and information to millions of readers around the globe via UPI.com and its licensing services.

With a history of reliable reporting dating back to 1907, today's UPI is a credible source for the most important stories of the day, continually updated - a one-stop site for U.S. and world news, as well as entertainment, trends, science, health and stunning photography. UPI also provides insightful reports on key topics of geopolitical importance, including energy and security.

A Spanish version of the site reaches millions of readers in Latin America and beyond.

UPI was founded in 1907 by E.W. Scripps as the United Press (UP). It became known as UPI after a merger with the International News Service in 1958, which was founded in 1909 by William Randolph Hearst. Today, UPI is owned by News World Communications.